India's recent decision not to purchase American warplanes for its $10 billion-plus fighter aircraft programme - the largest single military tender in the country's history - has stirred debate in defence circles worldwide.

India's defence ministry deemed the two American contenders, Boeing's F/A-18 Superhornet and Lockheed's F-16 Superviper, not to fulfil the requirements that it sought in a medium-size multi-role combat aircraft. With the Russian MiG-30 and the Swedish Gripen also eliminated, two European planes, the Eurofighter Typhoon and the French Rafale, are the only aircraft still in contention for an expected order of 126 planes.

India had never previously purchased an American fighter plane, and the United States hoped that India would cement the emerging bilateral strategic partnership with a hefty check. Indeed, US officials, including president Barack Obama, had lobbied for the deal, which would have pumped money and jobs into the ailing American economy. The "deeply disappointed" US ambassador to India, Tim Roemer, promptly announced his resignation. But, in a typical comment, Indian-American strategist Ashley Tellis observed trenchantly that India had chosen "to invest in a plane, not a relationship".

The notion that a major arms purchase should be based on broader strategic considerations - the importance of the US in India's emerging Weltpolitik - rather than on the merits of the aircraft itself, strikes Indian officials as unfair. Some deny that the decision reflects any political bias on the part of India's taciturn, left-leaning defence minister, AK Antony. The choice, they aver, is a purely professional one, made by the Indian Air Force, and only ratified by the ministry.

The two European fighters are generally seen as aerodynamically superior, having outperformed both US-made aircraft in tests under the adverse climatic conditions in which they might have to be used, particularly in the high altitudes and low temperatures of northern Kashmir. Experts suggest that the American planes are technologically ten years behind the European ones, and it doesn't help that Pakistan, India's likely adversary if the aircraft were ever pressed into combat, has long been a regular US client for warplanes.

Moreover, Indian decision-makers could not help but be aware that the US has not, over the years, proved to be a reliable supplier of military hardware to India or other countries. It has frequently cut off contracted supplies, imposed sanctions on friends and foes alike (including India), and reneged on delivering military goods and spare parts, in addition to being notoriously unwilling to transfer its best military technologies.

The current Indian fleet of mainly Russian and French planes has suffered from no such problems, and the existing ground-support and maintenance infrastructure would have needed major changes to handle US aircraft. (It is likely that the eventual winner of the bid will be required to enter into a joint-production arrangement with India, which US companies would not have done.)

As if all this were not enough to decide against America, the clincher might well have been the Indian government's desire to avoid any further procurement controversy at a time when allegations of corruption beset it from all sides. A decision made on technical grounds, many felt, would be easier to defend than one based on political considerations.

Against this are the unambiguous advantages of pleasing a major new ally and developing a pattern of bilateral military cooperation in supply, training, and operations that has yet to evolve. At a time when US nuclear-reactor purchases - made possible by the historic deal negotiated by the Bush administration - have been held up by US insistence on exemptions from supplier liability in the event of an accident, some regard India's spurning of US aircraft as a gratuitous rejection of an opportunity to demonstrate that friendship with India helps America, too...

"The two European fighters are generally seen as aerodynamically superior, having outperformed both US-made aircraft in tests under the adverse climatic conditions in which they might have to be used, particularly in the high altitudes and low temperatures of northern Kashmir. Experts suggest that the American planes are technologically ten years behind the European ones..."

The "deeply disappointed" US ambassador to India, Tim Roemer, promptly announced his resignation. But, in a typical comment, Indian-American strategist Ashley Tellis observed trenchantly that India had chosen "to invest in a plane, not a relationship".

It has frequently cut off contracted supplies, imposed sanctions on friends and foes alike (including India), and reneged on delivering military goods and spare parts, in addition to being notoriously unwilling to transfer its best military technologies.

The current Indian fleet of mainly Russian and French planes has suffered from no such problems

The Indians have another, far more serious problem with parts. The parts and spares that they get from Russia are often of an inferior quality and have lead to numerous wrecks, etc. It has gotten so bad that they have recently let out bids to allow non-Russian suppliers to provide replacement parts.

F-16’s were upgraded with a totally new exportable Block configuration.

The F-18’s were a totally new manufactured airframe and included state-of-the-art technology (as approved for release by the Dept of State and congress).

The indians are corrupt and with US FCPA oversight practices and laws, the US bidders did not engage in any of that nonsense, because if they did and it was exposed, they would not only lose their 36b export authority to india and loss of contract, but further sanctions would follow and additional contracts (domestic) would be in jeopardy.

So, we have a situation where the US bidders had their hands tied and offered outstanding platforms, whereas the indians did the usual third-world corruption thing. No surprise. To “hide” their corruption they make baseless accusations, as the bidders are not authorized to release configuration details, so the general public has only the worlds of a corrupt government justifying their corrupt decision.

US companies have plenty of avenues for appeal in India. They have used those avenues more than once and successfully so. If they knew of corruption, they would have raised it and everyone from the media to opposition political parties would have jumped on it.

International arms deals are NOT all about technology and economics. They are political as well.

For years, when India was a major member of the “non-aligned” movement, she made “friends” with Russia, instead of the U.S., as her counter to China; at a time when aligning with the U.S. could have aligned Russia with China vis-a-vis India.

After the Soviet Empire collapsed, India began to warm more to the U.S.; and trade and policy agreements have grown.

But now, instead of playing to her hottest pursuers, Russia and the U.S., she leaves them both in a mood of needing to try harder to curry favor with her some other way, by this time giving EU firms this arms deal.

American planes are the worlds most advanced, no doubt about that but the fighters that were on offer were seriously inferior. Super hornets were found to be underpowered and and both American fighters failed the trials. The Typhoons and Rafale were found to be streets ahead of the American fighters. And this MMRCA deal was by far the cleanest and the most transparent deals that ever happened in India. Probably the only deal where bribery and politics had very little role to play and the fighter platform were purely chosen on merit.

What was that incident where Lockheed Martin stole some confidential papers pertaining to the MMRCA deal and tried to manipulate Dassault out of the race? Yeah Americans are so clean. /s

The F-16 and F-18 failed to even clear the trials. I haven't heard LM or Boeing contesting the claims. I don't think they would not raise any hue and cry over a $10 billion deal if they suspect foul play. As corrupt as India is (which really isn't a whole lot more then US) there are times when India is dead serious about security and defense when they have a heavily armed China & Pakistan breathing down their neck. Face it. US offer fell short.

What was that incident where Lockheed Martin stole some confidential papers pertaining to the MMRCA deal and tried to manipulate Dassault out of the race? Yeah Americans are so clean. /s

The F-16 and F-18 failed to even clear the trials. I haven't heard LM or Boeing contesting the claims. I don't think they would not raise any hue and cry over a $10 billion deal if they suspect foul play. As corrupt as India is (which really isn't a whole lot more then US) there are times when India is dead serious about security and defense when they have a heavily armed China & Pakistan breathing down their neck. Face it. US offer fell short.

The US is sqeeky-clean when compared to the third-world cesspool of corruption that makes up the indian process/politics.

US companies are monitored closely and the culture of corruption like in india is not there in the US. Not even close.

They would not raise an issue because with india, what would be the point. None, as india would continue doing what it does, and there are no respectable courts in that country, especially when it comes to discovery rules.

Face it, india is corrupt, no worse than any other third-world country, for sure, but still horribly corrupt.

Trying to equate india with US laws and practices is laughable, and defending bad behavior of india by lamely citing (non-policy, non-tolerated) alleged bad behavior on the part of someone else, is no defense at all and no justification.

But no, India has nothing on US when it comes to the total dollar amount involved in scams. In India corruption is petty and rampant but nothing as sophisticated as US. US is high roller compared to India.

And yeah commit the crime and blame the in-country consultant and do damage control by removing him. Totally LM culture. Remember Bhopal... Union Carbide? Same story.

But no, India has nothing on US when it comes to the total dollar amount involved in scams. In India corruption is petty and rampant but nothing as sophisticated as US. US is high roller compared to India.

And yeah commit the crime and blame the in-country consultant and do damage control by removing him. Totally LM culture. Remember Bhopal... Union Carbide? Same story.

“They would not raise an issue because with india, what would be the point.”

I don't think business don't raise an issue because they “don't see a point”. $10 billions ++ at stake. That's a big huge point. If India is corrupt how did the India system ended up working in favor of Boeing's other defense deals with India? Sorry but your “corruption” theory is but your own personal bias nothing more.

Besides most importantly the Indians were looking for technology transfers and some solid guaranties against sanctions. They got neither from US and both of those from Europeans. Europeans are clear winners in this one.

Yes, I know, it’s the official position in India. Like, I said, the “official” position.

“Besides most importantly the Indians were looking for technology transfers and some solid guaranties against sanctions.”.........Europeans are clear winners in this one.”

I see. “Technology transfers” are a “winner” for those who transfer their technology???; for a deal today, knowing it will mean the recipient will not need you tomorrow????

The transferred technology, and the technology transfers (a VERY political matter), WAS an the issue; NOT “superior” technology.

And yes, “sanctions” also (what you can do with OUR technology) are a political matter, NOT a technology matter.

Am I holding it against India? No. It’s natural. And IT IS POLITICAL.

It’s not about getting “the best fighter”. It’s about getting “technology transfers” and it’s about not having restrictions on the use of the technology being bought. Those ARE POLITICAL decisions. NOT “best fighter” reasons.

Which of these fighters will be in service for the next 30 years? The European ones will continue to soldier on more than the US ones by virtue of the need for them to preserve their defense-tech base.

Which of these aircraft are the best aerodynamically and optimised to take on the threat of the new Flanker derivatives coming out from China-the European aircraft were designed for that role; the F-16 wasn’t. Why is it that people don’t talk about the Super Hornet’s deficiency in the air to air role-transonic acceleration, turn rates etc. These are the US Navy’s views, not mine.

The Super hornet has always been known as the great STRIKE aircraft-but which is easier to do-modify a fighter with ground attack capabilities? Or improve the aerial performance of a strike aircraft. To say the IAF went solely by “technology transfer/political concerns” avoids accepting the fact that the European aircraft had operational benefits.

Why do you think India purchased systems like the P-8I and C-17 from the US? Technology transfer? political mileage? May be, but most importantly because they offered decisive operational advantages over existing and potential rivals.

Aviation experts apprehend that this procedural lacuna could be exploited by one of the politically influential vendors (read Boeing and Lockheed Martin) to re-enter contention. Senior IAF officers, however, emphatically rule out selecting either American fighter. Says an IAF officer involved in the selection: The US companies, which flaunt their technological leadership, are feigning hurt that their fighters were found technologically unsuitable. But it was their misjudgement to offer the IAF fighters like the F-16 and the F-18 that are decades old. It is arrogance to claim these have been modernised and are good enough for a country like India. If they wanted to argue technology, they should have fielded the F-35.

I’ve seen on Livefist allegations from a supposedly reputable source on corruption involving people close to Dassault and the Indian govt. Dunno how accurate, but wouldn’t surprise me. Even then, Rafale was probably always going to win this contest.

The F-16 was a non starter from the get go. The F-18 is anything but old fashioned. Containing 3rd gen AESA (while the Euros are still putting together a first gen and havent finished) and probably the most adv avionics (the Prowler option would have been unbeatable perhaps), the -18 was nothing to sneeze at. This completely escaped the Rafale fanbois on the Indian forums.

However, we had nothing to offer on ToT and plenty against us (CISMOA etc), and in the end that probably kept the -18 off the shortlist. The French are promising the world, and I’m sure will charge India the world as well. Their problem.

Those “allegations” are laughable to say the least. Subramaniam Swamy, the fellow who made those claims, pretty much makes his living out of targeting Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the ruling Congress party. The claims are too idiotic to even be considered laughable-if ‘Italian’ links were so important (since Sonia is an Italian by birth), why didn’t Eurofighter use it??

If these allegations are remotely credible, why is it that the other contenders and OPPOSITION political parties aren’t jumping on it. It’s not like India’s politicians and media remain quiet on a scandal.

You still don’t seem to be interested in answering why people diss the Super Hornet on it’s aerodynamics-why is it that people keep crapping on it regarding its range, its turn rates and speed? India has purchased almost 10 billion USD worth of weaponry from US companies-the same restrictions on technology transfers existed there; so why did the Indian military buy it. Because those systems had significant advantages over the rest.

If the decision making process in India is as corrupt as you claim, how come Boeing, Lockheed Martin and GE have won billions in contracts since 2005?? Why did Boeing and LM participate in this tender if it was a corrupt cesspool where they stood no chance?

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